NZUS Council
The NZUS Council relaunches its Internship Programme after a 3-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme was devised in 2011 by then New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, Right Honourable Mike Moore.
Conducted in partnership with the University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Auckland, and Air New Zealand, exemplary students are selected to participate in a rare chance to experience the inner workings of the Congress, working directly alongside members of Congress and their staff.
Collaborating with the New Zealand Embassy in Washington D.C., the programme is designed to strengthen relationships between Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States, encouraging the next generation of leaders to build a deeper understanding of the USA and our bilateral relations.
“We are proud to be sending four outstanding young New Zealanders to experience first-hand the US political system, and to represent New Zealand as a close partner,” said Council Chair Rosemary Banks.
The four students awarded the prestigious internship for the 2023/24 programme are Emily Speirs and Rā Neilsford-Jones from the University of Canterbury, Gray Ryburn from Victoria University of Wellington, and Helen Lam from the University of Auckland.
Emily is a fourth-year student pursuing an LLB and BA, majoring in political science and international relations, and says of the opportunity: “I am so honoured and excited… I’m hoping that the experience supports a career in foreign affairs and provides me with a pathway for future endeavours.”
“I’ve been told from people who have done the Congress internship before that this experience is nothing short of life-changing… I’m very excited for the unique perspective that I will get by working in Congress,” says Rā, an undergraduate in his fifth year of study.
The interns began their two-month internships in mid-November.
